Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 2026 Budget And Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wausau committee backs 2026 fee schedule but removes pet-license fees for council action after heated debate
Summary
Finance committee recommended adoption of the 2026 budget and most fee changes, including airport and assessment fees, but after extended debate over animal-license increases the committee voted to approve the fee schedule with pet-license fees removed so the full City Council can act that evening.
The Wausau Finance Committee on Oct. 28 recommended a 2026 budget and adopted most of the proposed fee schedule but removed pet-license fee changes from its approval, sending those specific fees to the City Council for action.
City staff told the committee the city's assessed valuation came in at a 1.36% increase (slightly below the 1.5% estimate used during budget work), producing an estimated net tax-rate impact that would raise the tax rate by 3¢ per $1,000 of assessed value if the recommended budget is adopted. The presenter said staff proposed several modest fee increases across departments, including a 3% increase to T-hangar rents at the airport and a new alley-encroachment charge to manage landscaping encroachment in alleys.
Committee discussion focused on proposed increases to pet-license fees. Alder McElhinney said she would not support the fee schedule because of the pet-license proposal, adding, “I'm not gonna support the fee schedule because I voted against the pet license, and I still am against that. I've heard a lot of feedback, and we're killing people with their I mean, I have elderly people that we're going backwards.” City staff explained the increased pet-license cost includes a higher remittance Marathon County is requiring; under state statute the city must remit the county portion to pay for county humane-society and stray-dog obligations. The police chief (Matt) described the city's contracts with the humane society and said the county funds are used to support the county's statutory obligations for stray dogs.
Alders proposed several compromise figures (for example, reducing the city portion of the spay/neuter license or changing microchip discounts). Because the City Council would consider pet-license fees that same evening, the committee voted to adopt the fee schedule without the pet-license fees so council could amend or adopt that portion at its meeting. The motion to approve the fee schedule without pet licenses passed on a voice vote (moved by Alder Watson; seconded by Alder Tierney).
